When you are the No. 9 pick in the NFL draft, the pressure can be enormous for any player. When you’re tasked with replacing Fletcher Cox as the face of the Eagles’ defensive line positions, the pressure rises to another level.
Last season, through the first nine weeks of his rookie year, Jalen Carter generated 29 pressures (tied for eighth in the league among interior defensive linemen), according to Pro Football Focus, including four sacks and 20 hurries.
Carter finished his rookie year with 6.0 sacks, 33 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery (which he returned for a touchdown) in 16 regular-season games.
Still, Carter started just one game and played 51 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps, but the ninth overall pick in the 2023 Draft was third on the team in sacks and fifth among all rookies.
Carter hit the proverbial rookie wall, and his production decreased down the stretch. Fast forward to 2024, and Carter has more than carried the “enormous weight on his shoulders.”
During a recent episode of the CW’s ‘Inside The NFL’ former Patriots, and new North Carolina Tar heels head coach Bill Belichick credited Carter’s increased conditioning for the improved play on defense.
“Jalen Carter can play every play” 💪
Belichick credits the Eagles defense’s conditioning as part of their turnaround. pic.twitter.com/DOaZ03yS23
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) December 12, 2024
According to PFF, Carter’s 683 defensive snaps are 2nd out of 212 defensive tackles in the NFL, and he’s third among all defensive tackles with 48 pressures.
